Staff photo by Clay Schuldt A proposed amendment to New Ulm’s zoning would limit temporary signage to 30 continuous days in four-month period. However, the signs at Broadway and Center could be considered permanent signage due to consistent placement and location in a business district.

NEW ULM – The regulations for temporary signage in New Ulm are likely to change, but the impact on a popular downtown sign posting location should be minimal.

The New Ulm City Council agreed to move forward with the first consideration of a zoning ordinance updating the city’s temporary sign requirements. New Ulm already has a sign ordinance in place, but City Planner John Knisley said the amendments would help clarify regulations regarding complaints.

Knisley said that typically the city handles temporary sign issues on a complaint basis. Until a complaint is made against a temporary sign, the city takes no action.

Recently the city had received complaints about certain temporary signage around town. When city staff attempted to address the complaint, they realized the current ordinance was not adequate for resolving the issue.

Knisley said the changes to the ordinance were designed to give the city clear regulations if future complaints came through. The amendment to the sign ordinance includes eight additions.

•At any time, not more than one temporary sign shall be displayed per business.

•The display of the temporary sign shall be limited to one continuous 30-day period in any four months.

•A temporary sign permit is good for 30 calendar days from the date of issuance.

•Temporary signs are limited to 32 square feet per surface with a maximum of two surfaces. No part of the sign or support structure can exceed eight feet in height at the ground location of the sign.

•Temporary signage is allowed over and above the typical signage limit allowed on the property for permanent signage.

•The temporary sign must be placed on the premises.

•Temporary signs cannot be illuminated.

• Signage advertising the sale of lots in development would need to be removed within 30 days of the final lots sale.

During the council discussion of this ordinance, the top concern was how the change would impact the banner signs located at the Center and Broadway.

A residential property at the corner of Center and Broadway has displayed banners on its fence for a variety of community events including upcoming play productions, concerts, celebrations and fundraisers.

“Is this going to affect our Belgian waffle signs and our pancake breakfast sign?” Councilor David Christian asked.

Knisley said this all depended on the location. Residential and commercially zoned properties have different regulations. Though these signs at Center and Broadway are located on a residential property, the area is zoned as a business district. This means the property at Broadway and Center is allowed a certain amount of permanent signage. In this specific case, the city would classify these banners as permanent signs.

“Those signs are typically at the same location every time they are put up,” Knisley said. “If they meet the sign allowance for that district, we will consider that more permanent signage that meets that requirement.”

In the business district, permanent signage limits are based on the property’s street frontage. Knisley would later calculate that the property at Center and Broadway is allowed 60 square feet of permanent signage without the need for a permit or variance.

Knisley also confirmed that no complaint had been issued against the signage at Broadway and Center. He explained the changes to the ordinances were made to help regulate mobile signs that are moving in and off property for a short period of time.

“We will have to deal with each site or complaint individual based on zoning district and property,” Knisley said.

Councilor Eric Warmka made the motion to approve the first consideration of the amendment to update temporary signage requirements with a second from Councilor Christian. The motion was unanimously approved.

The council will need to hold a second reading and consider the amendment. Thirty days after the second reading, the ordinance will take effect.